The Worlds Smartest

This Is The Enforcer Speaking,

To my constant readers, thank you. Every single review has meant the world to me.

Now…On To The Story!

His Name

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"Listen Chi Chi I don't care how pissed off you are. I've got two hundred and fifty pounds of crying male Saiyan in my living room and I want it out."

Chi Chi, in all her bitchy glory, crossed her arms and stuck her nose in the air. "Well he's not my problem either."

Left eye twitching Bulma ground her teeth. "He is your mate, so it is most decidedly your problem. You have to sort this out between yourselves."

"There's nothing to figure out," Chi Chi said, turning her nose even further in the air. If she walked out in the rain like that she'd have drowned.

Pushing herself back from Chi Chi's dining room table Bulma stood slowly, not that she had much of an option with her belly in the way and loomed over Kakarot's mate as best she could.

"I did not get waken up before dawn and struggle into boots without actually being able to see my own feet to come here and be disrespected by you." Bulma couldn't help but slam her hands down on the table, rattling the china and startling Chi Chi enough to make her jump. "You chose to mate that male, you chose him, and though he should have perhaps warned you of the consequences of your actions they are still the results of your choices."

Chi Chi made a strangled sound before lurching to her feet. Toma and Zuc twitched forward from the corners where they were lurking but Bulma held them at bay with a glance.

"I didn't know they'd take my son from me!" she screeched.

"They haven't taken your son from you," Bulma said, keeping her voice level. "But according to the laws of this planet you no longer have the right to make legal decisions for him up to and including the dictate of his education outside of the home and his travels off planet. Your mate also has the right to override any of your decisions in regard to your son." She paused, taking a breath and met Chi Chi's eyes. "But we know he won't."

Chi Chi looked at her through teary eyes. "What?"

"Come on Chi Chi we both know you could bully that male into doing almost anything but I'm telling you that it's in everyone's best interest that you don't. Gohan needs trained, needs raised on this planet, and when he reaches legal age, which is sixteen on Vegetasai, he will be able to choose for himself what he wants to do. By then he should be able to control his power, and his Oozaru well enough to not be a threat to Earth or anything else unless he wants to."

What Bulma left out was that if Chi Chi got Kakarot to approve on something stupid Vegeta would stop it before it got too far. But in that moment, she'd have said literally anything to get the woman to let Kakarot come back home. She just didn't have the patience to deal with an emotional Saiyan male with the demonstrative maturity of a toddler.

Emotions flitted across Chi Chi's face as what was said sunk in. Bulma took the moment of silence to stretch her aching back. Ten months of pregnancy in and Bulma was so over it. If she spent too much more time here with Kakarot's mate she'd have to use her bathroom and something about that just seemed undignified.

After a moment Chi Chi cleared her throat, wiped her eyes, and pulled herself together. "I've been rude, would you like something to eat? You must be starving."

If there was one thing the woman knew how to do it was cook but the thought of food turned Bulma stomach and she shook her head at the offer.

"No thanks Chi Chi, but can I ask what happened? I gather you didn't realize what skipping the Naming would do but what did you and Kakarot fight about?"

Straightening her dress Chi Chi sat back down, Bulma followed suit.

"I wanted to take him to Earth for a while," she hedged.

"A while?"

"I would have brought him back…eventually."

"Uh huh." Bulma didn't believe that for a second. "And Kakarot said no?"

"Goku said he didn't want to leave Vegetasai right now and that we shouldn't leave without him. I decided I'd take Gohan home on my own then but when I got to the shuttle port they pulled us up in the travel system and told me that I could leave but our son couldn't without Goku's permission."

Really, it wasn't surprising Chi Chi tried to leave. What was a surprise was how soon she had tried to do it. Gohan was still so small.

"What would you do if you took him back and Gohan transformed on Earth?" Bulma shifted around uncomfortably as she asked. Her back was really killing her and all she wanted to do was go back to bed.

"I would make sure he didn't," she answered, shrugging.

"Seriously? You think you'd be able to keep him from ever seeing the full moon? What happens when he has a tantrum and blows something up? Like you?"

Kakarot's mate shrugged and fiddled with her teacup. "He's just a baby."

"No," Bulma said. "He's a half Saiyan hybrid who could be one of the most powerful beings in the universe someday. Gohan is going to be stronger than you before he walks. If he isn't taught how to manage all that strength by those who can handle him, he could hurt someone. How do you think he'd feel if he grew up and found out he killed you or someone else when he was little? I know you're not happy, I know you hold a grudge against the Saiyan's because of everything but can't you try to be happy here? We've abolished slavery, ended the raids, and are turning this civilization down a better path. They could learn something from you. How to make a decent cup of tea for starters."

Chi Chi gave a slight snort and nearly smiled. "I don't want him growing up to be a monster Bulma. I want him to be smart, to work at something besides how to use his fists. I'd rather he didn't learn to fight at all."

"He will want to fight, it's in his nature, and he'll need to train but that doesn't mean he can't be a doctor or a scientist too. Look at his grandsire, Bardock's a great doctor and an elite solider. If you stay here with him, he will be surrounded by people who want nothing but the best for him, with endless resources to ensure he will grow up safe and knowing himself. He will learn everything he needs to be happy and healthy and when the times right he can go see his other home world. I'm telling you, even if you bully Kakarot into going to Earth with you two it won't end well. That kids would end up grow up knowing he's different on a world that feels worse about Saiyan's than you do at the moment. He'll never get to feel normal or have friends on Earth. Here he'll at least have chance at normal." Bulma was doing the best she could to sound patient and reasonable. Finally, Bulma asked, "If you'd known what would happen would you have come to the naming and done what you had to do?"

"Of course. What kind of mother would I be if I knowingly gave up my rights to my son over my own stupid pride? Did you really think I wouldn't have?"

"Yes, actually."

"That's ridiculous."

"This whole situation is ridiculous," Bulma grouched.

They fell silent again for a moment before Chi Chi said, "Why didn't he tell me?"

Her voice was soft and Bulma felt like maybe they were getting somewhere. Sort of.

"Honestly, I think Kakarot's an idiot who didn't think about it. You said no, were adamant about it and he's just not bright enough to have considered that you didn't know what you were doing. He relies on you to be the brains of the situation usually. You want to talk about fighting? He's your go to male. Anything outside of that and…" Bulma trailed off with a shrug.

"You're not wrong. He is a bit dense."

Seeing Chi Chi's fire dying down and with her back increasingly aching Bulma went for the kill.

"Now he's in my room's freaking out because he's dealing with something unheard of in his culture. Being thrown out by a mate? Saiyan's live knowing that when they find their mate, they've found their destiny. They don't even have an equivalent for divorce and don't throw their mates out or leave them. Cheating and abuse just doesn't happen between bonded mates. Really, they're lucky in that way. So now this male who's never once considered he could be tossed out and left is losing his absolute mind because he just doesn't understand. It's deeper and more complex than just loving someone. You're not just breaking his heart, you're breaking his soul."

"But how am I supposed to trust him again?"

"I do believe he'd do anything to earn that back and for what it's worth he didn't actually lie to you. He just didn't realize what you didn't know. You two need to have a really long conversation and that's not going to happen in my living room."

Chi Chi opened her mouth to reply when a wail cut into the conversation. Excusing herself she hustled off down a hall only to return a moment later with a fussing Gohan in her arms. The baby already latched onto his mothers' breast. A small blanket covered Chi Chi's exposed breast but left the baby's face free.

"He's always hungry. Just like his father." She sighed somewhat dreamily while looking down at the nursing baby. "He looks just like him too. I love both of them so much."

"Does that mean I can send Kakarot home? Will you work this out with him?" Bulma pressed. She really wanted Kakarot out of her space.

"I suppose so," Chi Chi said with a long-suffering sigh.

"Perfect." Bulma stood and rubbed at her back. "I'll just go let him know."

She was already half way to the door, her guards flanking her, when Chi Chi called out to her. Stopping she turned back to hear what the other woman had to say.

"I know we haven't really gotten along but our children are going to grow up together, they're the only ones of their kind after all…so I'm beginning to think we shouldn't spend all of our time hating each other. Maybe we could try getting along a bit more?"

Bulma stared at her. Was Chi Chi offering to try to be friends? It seemed like it, and she did have a point about their kids. They'd be the only half breeds on the planet. It would be nice if they could grow up as friends and not having their mothers at each other's throats all the time. And really, Chi Chi was the one with the problem. Mostly. So, if she could get over it maybe Bulma should too?

Crap. Bulma hated having to act like an adult.

"Yeah," Bulma agreed. "Why not?"

"How about we all have dinner here tonight? Around six? I could make something for you from back home."

Forcing her face into her best attempt at cheerfulness Bulma said, "Alright, tonight at six."

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His mate stared forlornly at her meal as all around them ruckus laughter broke out, but she was a stone in that sea, the happiness of the others in the room flowing around her but not through her.

What was wrong with his mate?

It had been her insistence that landed them at this asinine meal at Kakarot's house. He'd been so grateful for her having gotten the harpy to let the clown go back home that Vegeta had agreed to attending the meal, against his better judgement, but now it was Bulma and not himself that appeared to be the most miserable. Her body ached, he could feel that, but she hurt most days now, the aches and pains increasing every day as their young grew, so it was difficult to say if the increased discomfort was the problem or something else?

"Woman?" he made it a question.

"Just not really hungry." She swirled her noodles around in the bowl. "Food smells good though."

It was odd she didn't want to eat, lately it seemed she ate nonstop, a snack always in hand no matter what she was doing, and he had to admit Kakarot's mate knew how to cook. The flavors were unusual to him, her claims that it was the best she could do with what she had here on Vegetasai seemed humble compared to the quality of the food she presented. She'd even managed to talk him into having a stock of her native food and spices brought back on the next rotation of Saiyan's out of Earth. All part of the new Earth treaty with Vegetasai of course.

"You should try these." He nudged a plate of what the harpy had called rice balls in her direction. He watched her intently as she rolled her eyes at him and picked one up and began nibbling delicately at it.

"Happy?" she asked around a mouthful of rice.

"At least your table manners are not as terrible as Kakarot's," he sighed and looked to the younger male as he ate, food flying around him, bowls rapidly stacking up.

She smiled half-heartedly and rubbed at her stomach. No one else in the room seemed to notice her dower mood. Even his own parents were caught up in the rapture of the food and conversation. Mr. Satan, Bardock and Gine appeared to enjoy being grandparents, passing the young Gohan between them. Motherhood suited Kakarot's mate, though the male was oblivious to his new responsibilities, she seemed not to mind. Even Bulma's mother and father took turns holding the young.

Vegeta did not know how exactly he felt about being a father. His own sire had not been overly involved in his upbringing.

"So, have you picked a name?" Bulma's mother asked.

Bulma hesitated a moment, "Yes but we have decided to follow the Saiyan traditions, so I haven't told anyone."

His mother nodded wisely. "Good. It is unlucky to do otherwise."

No one would know the child's name until he was born and Bulma bestowed it unto him. In days gone by when the birthing mortality rate for females was extreme, a young's name was often spoken with their mothers dying breath. Luckily enough for regeneration tanks and incubation chambers those days were long gone.

The chatter at the table continued, the noise nearly unbearable, when something made his mate laugh. Her smile brief before her eyes went wide and she all but leapt up from the table excusing herself to the bathroom. Ignoring the questioning looks from the table Vegeta got up and followed after her.

He found her down the hall locked in the bathroom.

Tapping on the door he grumbled, "Woman?"

There was a long-suffering sigh before she said, "I peed myself."

"Oh, ah…" he trailed off, not sure what to say to that. With nothing to contribute he leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed, and waited. It wasn't until he felt himself overcome with pain, deeper and sharper than he'd felt before, that he realized something was wrong.

At the same time, he heard his mate gasp. "Oh shit."

"Bulma?" He turned to the door, prepared to rip it from its hinges. "What is wrong?"

"I think my water broke."

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Everything happened so fast. Within moments of the realization that she had not in fact peed herself but that her water had broken Bulma found herself in the medical bay surrounded by more people than she'd prefer. Both sides of the family crowded in after her and she felt a momentary surge of panic at the crowd. That was all it took for Vegeta to eject everyone save Bardock.

That had been hours ago, and her labor had been slow to progress, the contractions a full body nightmare. Having denied the pain medicine once already it was not offered again and Bulma's pride refused to let her ask for it as the labor intensified. She wanted to do this as naturally. To be fully aware of her body and in control of the birth. No pain, no gain, right?

At least that's what she thought until the sixth hour of her labor, when her whole world narrowed down to the rolling waves of breath stealing full body pain each contraction brought on. When the labor first started, she'd taken the time to walk up and down the hall, having been told it would speed thing along, it seemed like a good idea. That was until the contractions and pain had gotten so strong they'd nearly brought her to her knees. Vegeta had to carried her back to the med bay where she'd stayed, alternating between laying on her back, to her hands and knees and finally to standing with her arms locked tight around Vegeta's neck. Him a solid rock holding her up when her own legs gave out.

Nothing was comfortable, everything hurt, and it felt like she was being torn up from the inside even though Bardock assured her everything was fine. That they just needed to wait until her body told her it was time. Finally, as she stood support by her mate, face pressed into his neck, that Bulma felt an overwhelming pressure and the urge to push intensified.

"I need to push," she gasped

"Get her on the bed," Bardock instructed. "I'll go get the females to help."

Bulma all but growled as she was jostled onto the bed. Bardock was only go for a moment before returning with Vegeta's mother and Gine. The pair following Bardock's instructions to brace her legs. She couldn't even find it in herself to be embarrassed. At that point all she wanted was her baby out of her.

"When you feel the urge to push listen to it," Bardock instructed.

Her world tapered down to one of burning pain as the next contraction hit her. Bulma squeezed Vegeta's hand as she pushed, focusing on bringing her son into the world alive.

"Keeping going, you're doing so good, he's almost here, breath and then push as hard as you can with the next contraction," Bardock coached her. "Push, push, push."

Taking a gasping breath in she pushed again, giving it everything she had left.

She screamed.

And so, he came forth, in a burning rush of pain, quickly followed by an odd relief. Bulma sagged back against the bed in a messy sweaty heap. All fight gone from her.

A cry filled the air.

A newborn child's cry.

She reached blindly for the sound. "Is he okay?"

Bardock held up her son, passing him to Vegeta, who clasped him to her chest. His tiny hands made fists as he exerted himself. Those sad cries dying down softly as he lay against her. She grasped him gently, cupping her hand to the purple fuzz covered head and when he finally opened his oh so blue eyes and met hers for the first time Bulma knew what love at first site really meant.

"Name your son," Vegeta's voice resonated through her.

Cradling their son to her chest and with tears running down her face Bulma said, "Trunks. His name is Trunks."

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Vegeta stood outside his mates regin tank. Every instinct in him had been to follow her in, to hold her and help her heal as he had done in the past but Bulma had stopped him. Demanding he stay behind to protect their son. She did not want him left with anyone else.

Unable to deny her pleas he loaded her into the tank and close the door on her. Leaving her alone to her healing rest.

It had taken both sets of grandsires to convince him that he could safely care for his own young on his own. Some part of him balked as they tried handing him the small bundle that was his own flesh and blood but finally, he relented.

After all the hustle and bustle of the last several hours the silence in the room was deafening. A small sound drew his attention down to his newborn young. Aside from his coloring the boy very clearly held his features. A small carbon copy that would only grow more similar as he developed into an adult.

And he was strong. Stronger than any newborn on record. Kakarot's young was similarly overpowered but his young was stronger.

Trunks scrunched up his face and let out a pathic sort of sound. Not knowing what else to do Vegeta began gently rocking him. That seemed to do the trick as the boy slowly drifted back off to sleep.

Looking down into his young's sleeping face Vegeta mumbled without conviction, "Do not get used to this."

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Trunks lay in his crib, his tiny body swathed in black and gold. The colors of his house. Of her house. Of her mate's house. It was still hard to believe this was her son, a child created by her and Vegeta. She could finally feel his ki separate from hers. He was strong and would only grow stronger.

Bulma wasn't sure exactly what she felt. She didn't really feel like a mother yet and thanks to the regin tank her body had already returned to its pre-pregnancy state. Her own mom had fawned over it, lamenting how she wish she'd had that back when she'd had Bulma. But to Bulma it made the whole experience ever so slightly unreal. Trunks was being feed with formula as her body didn't even recognize that she'd given birth, a common problem among females healed after birth apparently, and while she was grateful for the superior nutrition they'd developed in response to the problem on Vegetasai, it was one more thing that made the reality a little bit more difficult to adjust too. She prayed that she would be a good mother, that those motherly instincts everyone talked about would kick in soon.

Bulma didn't want to fail her son.

Reaching out she scooped him up into her arms. It was time to go.

-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-/-

How many of his life's most defining moments involved this pedestal? This throne? With crowds of warriors stretched out before him in endless rows and the press of the universe upon his shoulders? Only all of the most important. It was where his status had begun and when he died it was where it would end. Now he was to pass this weight, this great and terrible power onto his son. To lay the mantel upon his shoulders that all royalty wore...the unending, undying, responsibility of their people.

Together they wrapped him a blanket of the royal colors. Literally and symbolically covering the colors of his house with that of his station. A physical representation of reality, that his responsibility to his people would always come before his own wants and desires.

Side by side they lifted their son into the air and presented him to their people. "All hail, Trunks! Prince of all Saiyan's. May he live long, fight with pride, and rule well."

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A/N: The next chapter is the final chapter and I'm posting them same day. They're really only broken up for flow. There will be a longer final note to everyone there. For now, know everyone who's made it this far means the world to me